Bust

King George V - Bexleyheath bust

Erection date: 1912

Inscription

{At base of bust:}
King George V.

The original temporary plaster bust was unveiled at the tower's opening ceremony in 1912, but during the 1930s it started to disintegrate, and completely fell apart during cleaning in 1935. We've read that the replacement was cast by local sculptor John Ravera, who also produced the William Morris bust here, and that both were unveiled 18 January 1997. Since the sculptor was only born in 1941 we dismiss the suggestion that the royal bust was replaced shortly after WW2, unless the attribution to Revera is the mistake.

Site: Bexleyheath Clock Tower (5 memorials)

DA6, Bexleyheath Market Place

The four niches contain, reading clockwise, starting at the north: empty; Morris; Queen Elizabeth; King George V.

London's Screen Archives have a 3 minute film of the opening event, silent of course, but you can join in the rousing "three cheers". The centenary celebrations included a booklet: 'Changing Times: The Broadway, Bexleyheath, 1812-1912', which is very informative and shows some designs for the tower. It contained an electricity substation in the base, for the trams. On opening, of the tower's 4 niches only one was filled, with George V. Epps' speech finished with "I hope to see all the niches filled with busts of members of  the Royal Family.” The Morris bust rather ruined that plan but the Centenary celebrations included the launch of an appeal for the Elizabeth II bust.

Can any Bexleyheathians help us with a question? If what we've read about the George V bust is true, it means that the tower was totally devoid of busts from 1935 - 1997. Can any one confirm this?

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesof london.co.uk

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
King George V - Bexleyheath bust

Subjects commemorated i

King George V

Reigned: 1910 - 1936.  Born third in line to the throne, after his father (wh...

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This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
King George V - Bexleyheath bust

Created by i

John Ravera

Sculptor. Born Surrey, educated Camberwell, lived Bexleyheath. Other work in ...

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
King George V - Bexleyheath bust

Also at this site i

Bexleyheath Clock Tower Centenary

Bexleyheath Clock Tower Centenary

To mark the centenary of the Bexleyheath coronation memorial clock tower 1912...

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Coronation of King George V

Coronation of King George V

This is the foundation stone of the tower.

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Queen Elizabeth II - Bexleyheath bust

Queen Elizabeth II - Bexleyheath bust

Sculpted by Frances Segelman and erected to commemorate the 60th anniversary ...

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William Morris - Bexleyheath bust

William Morris - Bexleyheath bust

Morris lived very nearby in The Red House for 5 years. This bust was unveiled...

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